Weekly Iowa Crop Report, Sunday October 30, 2016

Corn for grain and soybean harvest progress remains behind both last year and the five-year average, although there were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the week ending October 30, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Besides harvest, other activities included chopping and baling corn stalks, tillage, and applying manure and fertilizer. There were reports of outside piling of corn for grain.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 85 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.

Seventy-one percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, 2 days behind the five-year average. Moisture content of all corn being harvested remained at 17 percent, unchanged from the previous week. Central and southeast Iowa were the only 2 districts with over 80 percent of the corn for grain crop harvested. Eighty-nine percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, one week behind last year, and 5 days behind normal. Farmers in southwest and south central Iowa still have one-third or more of their soybean crop to harvest.

Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 68 percent moderate to heavy. Off-farm grain storage availability was rated 75 percent adequate to surplus. On-farm grain storage availability was rated 67 percent adequate to surplus.

Pasture condition rated 60 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were described as favorable, with reports of cattle in fields feeding on stover.

Source:  NAFB News